With the finish of the last participants in front of the Vienna Burgtheater, the 42nd Vienna City Marathon successfully came to an end. A total of 46,083 reported runners from 146 nations ensured a major sporting event full of emotion, enthusiasm for running and community experience. 12,968 participants alone were registered for the classic marathon competition.
“We are very satisfied that the Vienna City Marathon went well and safely this year. All runners from 146 nations did their best in the eight competitions. Especially the great atmosphere along the route, the link between sports and classical culture in the 200th anniversary year of Johann Strauss, strong achievements of the international and Austrian athletes – and once again showing together in cold weather, they show once again, like The marathon is very enthusiastic and connected, ”said the VCM managing director Kathrin Widu and Dominik Konrad.
Youngest VCM winner of all time
Hafatu Abadi from Ethiopia won the marathon competition in 2:08:28 hours and thus ensured a special moment: at the age of only 21 he is the youngest winner in the history of the Vienna City Marathon. The Kenyan Mica Cheserek took second place in 2:10:23, followed by Mogos Tuemay in 2:10:33, another runner from Ethiopia. Andreas Vojta showed a gratifying race as the best Austrian runner and reached ninth place in 2:15:01 hours.
Threefight victory for Kenya among women
A surprise winner was also celebrated in the women’s race: 25-year-old Kenyan Betty Chepkemoi set off from her fellow runners around eight kilometers before the finish line and ran towards a confident victory. In 2:24:14 hours, she was the first to cross the finish line in front of the Burgtheater and thus celebrated her greatest success on an international stage so far.
Behind her, two other runners from Kenya secured the podium places. Rebbeca Tanui was second in 2:25:18 hours, followed by Catherine Cherotich, who ended the race in 2:25:45 hours. From a Austrian point of view, Eva Wutti showed a very remarkable performance. The 36-year-old Carinthian ended the marathon as the best Austrian athlete in 2:37:43 hours in eighth place.
Waltz world record at the Reichsbrücke cracked
Hundreds of thousands lined the route, cheered over 50 hot spots and cheering zones and made the VCM a festival for all generations again.
On the occasion of Johann Strauss’s 200th birthday, numerous musical and thematic accents were set in cooperation with “Johann Strauss 2025 Vienna” at the VCM 2025. On Saturday the bat-a 200-meter run for children between 3 and 6 years-caused enthusiasm among the little ones. The young participants ran disguised or made up and received a fabric bat as a memory at the finish line.
A very special warm-up took place on Sunday morning: At 8:35 a.m., more than 2,025 couples danced at the Reich Bridge to the Danube Waltz at 8:35 a.m.-and thus set up a world record certified by the Record Institute Austria. The dance homage to the Waltz king was accompanied by enthusiastic spectators and formed an atmospheric start to the marathon day.
Safe, calm and atmospheric
The marathon went without any significant incidents. The Vienna Red Cross reported a total of 138 ambulance interventions, 228 assistance and 15 hospital transports.
Coordination at the highest level
“The process was very orderly from a police point of view. Cooperation with all the organizations involved was efficient and professional – this year it was also possible to guarantee a safe setting for participants and audiences,” said Major General Thomas Losko. In order to make this event possible to all needs, the largest planning and traffic concept of Vienna is required every year. The VCM cooperates with 115 organizations, authorities and institutions.